This is one of those pieces that genuinely surprises you. The Lost Generation by Jonathan Reed is a poem written to be read in one direction — and then read again in reverse, where it says something completely different.
It’s a lovely one to share with older kids and teens too, as a way into talking about perspective, outlook, and how the same words can carry two very different meanings depending on which way you look at them.
Watch the video first, then read the poem below and try it both ways yourself.
Read it forwards, then read it from the bottom up.
I am part of a lost generation
and I refuse to believe that
I can change the world
I realize this may be a shock but
“Happiness comes from within”
is a lie, and
“Money will make me happy.”
So in 30 years I will tell my children
they are not the most important thing in my life
My employer will know that
I have my priorities straight because
work
is more important than
family
I tell you this
I will live in a country of my own making
In the future
Environmental destruction will be the norm
No longer can it be said that
My peers and I care about this earth
It will be evident that
My generation is apathetic and lethargic
It is foolish to presume that
There is hope.
Jonathan Reed wrote and performed this poem for AARP’s U@50 video contest, which invited entrants to make a short video describing what they imagined their lives would look like by the time they turned fifty. His video, Lost Generation, took second place — and the poem itself has been shared and re-shared ever since, precisely because of that clever reversal.
Read one way, it’s bleak. Read the other way, using exactly the same lines, it’s hopeful. That’s really the whole point of it: the words never change, only the direction you read them in — a neat reminder that outlook shapes meaning.
Recommended reading: if this one struck a chord, you might also like The Last Time Poem and Slow Down Mummy.
FAQ
Who wrote The Lost Generation?
The poem was written and performed by Jonathan Reed, as part of a video entry for AARP’s U@50 contest.
What is the poem actually about?
It’s a poem about outlook and generational pessimism versus hope. Read top to bottom, it reads as bleak and defeatist. Read bottom to top, using the very same lines, it becomes a message of hope and purpose. The trick is the reversal itself — the poem is really an exercise in how meaning depends on direction and perspective.
Is there a video of the poem?
Yes — Jonathan Reed performs it himself in the original video, which is embedded above. Watching the performance makes the reversal even more powerful, since he reads it both ways in one take.
Why do people share this poem so much?
Because the “read it forwards, then backwards” structure is genuinely clever and unexpected the first time you see it. It also works well as a discussion starter with older children and teens about attitude, resilience, and how the same facts can be framed differently.
Related articles
If you enjoyed this, you might like these too:
- The Last Time Poem
- Slow Down Mummy
- More poems and reflections for parents on MyKidsTime
Before you go
Did The Lost Generation surprise you? We’d love to hear what you thought of it — share your reaction in the comments below.
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